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Tag: UNICEF

  • Nigeria rated second worldwide with two million malnourished children-UNICEF

    Nigeria rated second worldwide with two million malnourished children-UNICEF

    The United Nations Children’s Fund has said Nigeria now stands as the country with the highest burden of malnourished children in Africa.

    The international agency disclosed this on its website on Tuesday, adding that only two out of every 10 children affected currently have access to treatment.

    It said with an estimated two million children in Nigeria suffering from severe acute malnutrition, the world’s most populous black nation has the second-highest number of stunted children in the world.

    “Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of 32 percent of children under five.

    An estimated two million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), but only two out of every 10 children affected is currently reached with treatment.

    “Seven percent of women of childbearing age also suffer from acute malnutrition,” it said.

    UNICEF described malnutrition as a direct or underlying cause of 45 percent of all deaths of under-five children.

    It explained that exclusive breastfeeding rates had not improved significantly over the past decade, with only 17 percent of babies being exclusively breastfed during their first six months of life.

    “Just 18 percent of children aged six to 23 months are fed the minimum acceptable diet,” it added.

    It further explained that states in northern Nigeria were the most affected by the two forms of malnutrition – stunting and wasting.

    It also said that high rates of malnutrition posed significant public health and development challenges for the country.

    UNICEF added, “Stunting, in addition to an increased risk of death, is also linked to poor cognitive development, a lowered performance in education and low productivity in adulthood – all contributing to economic losses estimated to account for as much as 11 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

    “We aim to ensure that women, children and adolescents, particularly in vulnerable and deprived areas, benefit from increased access to and use of quality services and information to prevent and treat malnutrition, including in emergencies.​”

  • UNICEF raises alarm over rising polio cases in Kano

    UNICEF raises alarm over rising polio cases in Kano

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the increasing number of polio cases in Kano State.

    UNICEF’s Kano Chief of Field Office, Mr Rahma Farah, raised the alarm during an orientation for 44 Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen and district heads on polio eradication, routine immunisation, and primary healthcare (PHC) services.

    Farah said that more than a quarter of a million children in Kano have never received routine immunisation vaccines, making the state home to the highest number of zero-dose children in Nigeria.

    “This isn’t just a statistic; it represents the future of nearly a quarter of a million children who are vulnerable to preventable diseases, putting their lives and our communities at risk.

    “This is not an isolated issue but a deeply concerning trend that threatens the health of our entire state.”

    Farah also highlighted the alarming rise in variant poliovirus cases in the state, with six cases reported in 2022, 27 in 2023, and 29 in 2024.

    “This escalating trend underscores the critical need for collective efforts to safeguard our children,” he stated.

    He emphasised the importance of vaccination in preventing diseases such as polio, measles, and diphtheria, urging local government chairpersons, traditional leaders, and the state government to strengthen immunisation efforts.

    “I urge you to establish well-funded and functional immunisation task forces in each local government area,” Farah said.

    Dr Abubakar Labaran, the Commissioner for Health, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery, particularly in vaccination, polio eradication, and reducing maternal mortality.

    Dr Nasiru Mahmud, Director-General of the State Primary Healthcare Management Board, explained that the workshop was designed to update stakeholders on health indicators, immunisation, polio eradication, and the challenge of zero-dose children.

    He stressed the importance of familiarising participants with their roles and responsibilities in addressing these issues.

    Jamilu Danbatta, the chairman of the Association for Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kano, spoke on behalf of the participants.

    He pledged to intensify efforts to eradicate polio and improve routine immunisation in the state.

    Danbatta also expressed commitment to collaborating with UNICEF to ensure the success of these efforts and strengthen immunisation initiatives across Kano.

  • Future of childhood ‘hangs in balance’ by 2050- UNICEF report

    Future of childhood ‘hangs in balance’ by 2050- UNICEF report

    The future of childhood ‘hangs in the balance’ as three major global forces reshape children’s lives, according to UN Children’s Fund UNICEF’s flagship report released on World Children’s Day.

    ‘The State of the World’s Children 2024: The Future of Childhood in a Changing World’, explores three megatrends young people face including climate disasters, demographic shifts and technological disparities that will dramatically reshape childhood by 2050.

    “It is shocking that in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic healthcare,” UN Secretary António Guterres said in his World Children’s Day message.

    “It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters”.

    In a stark warning the report reveals children will face eight times more exposure to extreme heatwaves and triple the risk of extreme river floods compared to the 2000s.

    Following 2023’s record-breaking temperatures, projected climate hazards will disproportionately affect children based on their socioeconomic settings and access to resources.

    “Children are experiencing a myriad of crises from climate shocks to online dangers, and these are set to intensity in the years to come,”  UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement on Wednesday.

    “Creating a better future in 2050 requires more than just imagination, it requires action. Decades of progress, particularly for girls, are under threat”.

    The report also projects significant population changes, with Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia hosting the largest child populations by the 2050s.

    While still high, Africa’s child population will drop below 40 per cent – down from 50 per cent in 2000s.

    East Asia and Western Europe’s data show a 17 per cent drop compared to 29 per cent and 20 per cent for those regions during the 2000s.

    These demographic shifts create challenges, with some countries under pressure to expand services for large child populations, while others balance the needs of a growing elderly population.

    While artificial intelligence and frontier technologies offer new opportunities, the report reveals the digital gap remains stark: In 2024 over 95 per cent of people in high-income countries have internet access compared to merely 26 per cent in low-income countries.

    The report notes that youth in developing countries particularly struggle to access digital skills, impacting their educational and workplace prospects.

    In spite of these concerns, some positive trends have emerged. Life expectancy at birth continues to rise, and nearly 96 per cent of children globally are expected to receive primary education by the 2050s.

    Increased investment in education and public health, and more stringent environmental protection could narrow the gender gap and reduce exposure to environmental hazards, the report reveals.

    UNICEF recommends urgent investment in education, services and sustainable and resilient cities for children.

    The agency aims to boost climate resilience in infrastructure, technology, essential services and social support systems as well as delivering connectivity and safe technology design for all children.

    “The decisions that world leaders make today – or fail to make – define the world children will inherit, Russell emphasised.

  • Taraba recruits 300 health workers

    Taraba recruits 300 health workers

    The Taraba Government says it has recruited 300 additional health workers for the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state to boost healthcare service delivery. Dr.Tukura Nyigwa, the Executive Secretary, Taraba PHCs, disclosed this to newsmen in Jalingo on Sunday.

    Nyigwa said that the feat was achieved following a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with support from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI).

    The executive secretary stated that plans were on the way to recruit an additional 150 personnel to ensure that PHCs were fully functional for enhanced quality of service to save lives.

    “Taraba Government has just concluded recruitment of 300 health personnel to boost healthcare service delivery at the PHCs level.

    “The recruitment is made possible due to the MOU by GAVI, UNICEF, and the Taraba government on PHCs strengthening. The MOU has positively impacted vaccination for children in the hard-to-reach areas with coverage of Penta 3 vaccine from 43 to 80 per cent,” he said.

    Nyigwa also said that the MOU has helped the state to strengthen the capacity of health personnel at the local government level for effective service delivery to the rural dwellers.

    He noted that the activities of Mama to Mama (women advocating to younger women on healthcare-seeking behaviours) have tremendously increased the number of women for antenatal care, exclusive breastfeeding, and immunisation by rural dwellers.

    Recall that UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office recently organised a media dialogue in Gombe for journalists from Gombe and Taraba to keep them abreast of the MOU on PHC strengthening in the two States.

    Dr Nuzhat Rafique, Chief, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, had charged journalists to champion the course of maternal and child health in their various places of work for a better society.

  • 2.3 million children at risk of polio in Nigeria – UNICEF

    2.3 million children at risk of polio in Nigeria – UNICEF

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that nearly 2.3 million children in Nigeria have not received routine immunisation (zero dose), leaving them at risk of polio outbreak.

    UNICEF’s Chief of Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, disclosed this during an awareness road walk in Bauchi on Thursday to commemorate this year’s World Polio Day.

    According to her, out of this figure, about 22,000 children in Bauchi State have not received routine immunisation thereby risking polio outbreak.

    “For over two decades, UNICEF has supported Bauchi state in its Polio Eradication Initiatives and Immunisation Plus Days campaigns.

    “This year alone, we have supported three state with Polio Outbreak Response campaigns and two targeted local Outbreak Response in four LGAs with funding for vaccine, logistics, social mobilisation and technical assistance.

    “It is heartwarming to note that Bauchi has been free of wild polio virus since the last case in 2013; however, we are still contending with the variant form of the virus.’’

    Rafique said that in spite of the success, 2.3 million children in Nigeria and around 22,000 children in Bauchi State had not received routine immunisation.

    She said that the outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus continue to persist.

    She further said that child deaths and physical disabilities cause by polio could be banished from the world if the stakeholders continued to put all hands on deck to stop the outbreaks.

    The UNICEF boss said every child in every household must receive the vaccine in order to completely eliminate polio, adding, ‘’unfortunately, thousands of children are still missing out.

    “The global decline in childhood immunisation coverage has led to rising outbreaks, even in countries that have been polio-free for decades.

    “The battle against polio is particularly difficult in the most challenging environments, yet eradication is attainable.

    “UNICEF delivers over one billion doses of polio vaccines each year, the largest portion of global vaccine deliveries,” she said.

    Rafique further urged government at all levels to prioritise vaccination for all children against polio, especially in hard-to-reach areas and communities with low immunisation rates.

    She urged the government to keep polio eradication on the front burner of political discourse while leveraging innovative solutions and coordinated actions to enhance the quality of immunisation campaigns.

    “We ask the Bauchi Emirate Council to support the mobilisation of parents and caregivers to avail their children to benefit from vaccinations and to support the resolution of non-compliance during and after campaigns,” she urged.

  • Sub-Saharan Africa not safe for girls – UNICEF laments abuse

    Sub-Saharan Africa not safe for girls – UNICEF laments abuse

    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund has reported that Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most dangerous places for girls globally.

    In its latest report obtained from its X handle on Thursday, the region has the highest number of victims, with 79 million girls and women affected (22 per cent), followed by 75 million in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (8 per cent), 73 million in Central and Southern Asia (9 per cent), 68 million in Europe and Northern America (14 per cent), 45 million in Latin America and the Caribbean (18 per cent), 29 million in Northern Africa and Western Asia (15 per cent), and 6 million in Oceania (34 per cent).

    UNICEF estimates that worldwide, around 370 million girls and women have endured sexual violence, with approximately one in five in sub-Saharan Africa suffering abuse before the age of 18.

    UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stated, “Sexual violence against children is a stain on our moral conscience.”

    The new data, compiled from national statistics and international surveys conducted between 2010 and 2022, aims to bring visibility to the scale of the crisis, despite inevitable gaps and underreporting.

  • Ending open defecation in Nigeria our priority – UNICEF

    Ending open defecation in Nigeria our priority – UNICEF

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has affirmed its commitment to end open defecation in Nigeria.

    Jane Bevan, Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), UNICEF, stated this at a two-day media dialogue themed “Ending Open Defecation in Nigeria and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)” in Lagos.

    Bevan emphasised that collaboration from all sectors was crucial in achieving this goal.

    “We are not just working toward an open defecation-free Nigeria; we are building a sustainable future where improved sanitation drives health, economic growth and environmental resilience.

    “We need the government, partners and the private sector to join us in making Nigeria open defecation-free.

    “We also need the media to assist us in sensitising the public to the dangers of open defecation.

    “By leveraging the power of information, we can create a movement that not only raises awareness but also translates into tangible actions for ODF at the community level.

    “We must keep this campaign on the front burner,” she said.

    In her remarks, Mrs Chizoma Opara, a Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, expressed concern over the persistence of open defecation in the country.

    Opara, who is also the National Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria Campaign, noted that the 2021 WASHNORM reports, revealed that more than 48 million Nigerians still engage in the practice.

    “Open defecation is a sanitation and hygiene-related issue and a significant contributor to the spread of NTDs.

    “Diseases like onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) are transmitted through contaminated soil and faeces, perpetuating a cycle of poverty, malnutrition and ill health.

    “By addressing open defecation, we can significantly reduce the transmission of NTDs,” Opara said.

    Aituaje Iruobe, popularly known as WAJE and a UNICEF Champion, expressed concern on the high rate of open defecation in Nigeria, reiterating her commitment to leading the campaign against the practice.

    The event also featured a panel of discussion with stakeholders deliberated on strategies to eliminate open defecation and related issues.

    NAN

  • UNICEF reveals plans to tackle malnutrition, polio in Nigeria

    UNICEF reveals plans to tackle malnutrition, polio in Nigeria

    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have pledged to intensify efforts to combat the growing issues of malnutrition and polio in Nigeria. At a recent meeting in Lagos, this collaboration, reinforced by the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME), saw the three organizations commit to leveraging their expertise and influence to protect children.

     

    UNICEF’s Nutrition Manager, Prosper Dakurah, emphasized the urgent need for states to provide counterpart funding to access the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF). This fund is crucial in the fight against malnutrition, which threatens approximately nine million children under five years old in Nigeria. Dakurah warned that without urgent action in 2024, millions of children would suffer from moderate to acute malnutrition.

     

    The CNF is a financing mechanism designed to support sustainable policies, programs, and supplies aimed at ending child wasting. It assists government-led efforts in countries with high rates of child malnutrition. Dakurah noted that while states like Katsina, Jigawa, and Plateau have committed funding, others such as Adamawa, Ebonyi, and Gombe have not. He urged these states to expedite their contributions, highlighting that UNICEF would match any state’s counterpart fund.

     

    The meeting also addressed resistance to immunization, attributed to cultural and social barriers. UNICEF Representative Cristian Munduate expressed frustration over misconceptions, lack of permission from husbands, and suspicions about free services, which prevent many parents from immunizing their children. She called for increased efforts from the government, traditional rulers, and the media to expand sensitization campaigns to change these behaviors.

     

    Eze Anaba, President of NGE, acknowledged the enormity of UNICEF’s task in Nigeria, citing poverty as a major underlying factor that exacerbates disease spread and hinders healthcare access. He noted that conflicts in various regions, including the Southeast, further complicate health interventions.

     

    The collaboration among UNICEF, DAME, and NGE aims to leverage their influence to address the challenges facing Nigerian children. Speaking in Lagos, DAME’s Founder and Trustee, Lanre Idowu, emphasized the need for increased engagement and best practices. Since 2005, UNICEF, DAME, and NGE have worked to promote children’s interests, and they seek to build on this foundation. Idowu urged editors to dedicate more space and airtime to issues affecting Nigerian children, reaffirming their commitment to upholding children’s rights to survival, education, protection, and development.

     

    Ochola-Odongo reiterated the focus areas of the collaboration: polio eradication, resolving the nutritional crisis, and protecting children’s rights. She noted a resurgence of polio, with 225 cases reported in 67 local governments across 15 states in 2023. This year, 44 cases have been reported in 30 local governments in 10 states. The resurgence is attributed to banditry and lack of access to healthcare.

     

    Dakurah highlighted the impact of malnutrition, noting that 31.8 million people in 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) suffer from food insecurity. Food inflation has soared from 24.8 percent in 2023 to 40.5 percent in 2024. Low rates of exclusive breastfeeding, with only 30 percent of nursing mothers adhering to the recommended six months, exacerbate the situation. He called for an extension of maternity leave to six months to support breastfeeding and improve child nutrition. Additionally, Dakurah urged governments to increase budget allocations to boost food production and supply.

     

    Addressing the nutritional crisis requires a multi-faceted approach, including policy changes, increased funding, and community engagement.

  • UNICEF raises concern over high prevalence of FGM in Nigeria

    UNICEF raises concern over high prevalence of FGM in Nigeria

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on stakeholders in the country to intensify efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

    The UNICEF says Nigeria accounts for 10 per cent, estimated at 19.9 million of 200 million girls and women worldwide.

    The UNICEF Country Representative, Mrs Cristian Munduate, said Nigeria hold the third highest number of women and girls who have undergone FGM around the world.

    Munduate disclosed this in Ilorin on Tuesday while speaking at the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, organised by the wife of Kwara governor.

    The UNICEF representative also said despite a slight decrease in prevalence of FGM in the country, recent data shows the practice remains widespread in Kwara.

    According to her, approximately one in every three girls experienced FGM.

    “FGM prevalence is highest among women aged 15-49, reaching 58 per cent and for the 0-14 age bracket, it stands at 35 per cent.

    “We must act with a collective commitment to change to address this issue comprehensively.

    “UNICEF, along with our sister agency, UNFPA, have co-led the largest global programme on the elimination of FGM aligning with the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    “This year’s theme: ‘Her Voice. Her Future. Investing in Survivors-Led Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation’, resonates with the journey we collectively embark upon to eradicate this harmful practice,” Munduate said.

    According to her, every survivor’s voice lies a testament to resilience, courage and the unwavering spirit to shape a different future.

    The wife of the Kwara governor, Amb. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, enjoined traditional and religious leaders who are the custodians of culture, faith and tradition, to join in the drive to ensure such harmful practice is phased out from their communities.

    She also urged the media to actively engage in the dissemination of relevant information to dissuade people from engaging in the harmful practice.

    “As revered citizens, I commend our traditional and religious leaders for their support on the programmes and activities of the government.

    “I sincerely urge your royal highnesses to extend this support to our quest to end this practice,” she said.

    The governor’s wife said stakeholders needed to redouble efforts and ensure that all hands are on deck toward meeting the global target of ending FGM by the year 2030.

    “It is in the light of this that I commend UNICEF for this remarkable partnership and shared commitment toward ending all harmful practices that may deter our women and girls from reaching their full potentials in all facets of life,” she said.

  • 650,000 Nigerian children displaced by flood in seven years – UNICEF

    650,000 Nigerian children displaced by flood in seven years – UNICEF

    About 650,000 Nigerian children have been displaced by floods, thus making the country the second most affected globally by climate change impacts on children,  according to a report from the United Nations Children’s Education Fund, (UNICEF).

    UNICEF noted that the displacement occurred from 2016 to 2023,  in a statement released on Monday, which coincided with the 2023 World Children’s Day.

    The UN agency emphasized that over 110 million Nigerian children are at risk due to rising temperatures, floods, droughts, and severe storms.

    The Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Salisu Dahiru stressed the urgency of a swift and inclusive response, particularly considering the needs of vulnerable populations like children and women, in decision-making and implementation.

    Similarly, Christian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, underscored the need to provide a platform for children to express their concerns about climate change, towards shaping a collective path toward a sustainable future.